Menstrual cycle

Menstruation is also called menstrual bleeding, menses, catamenia or a period. Your monthly cycle begin on the day you start your period. Hormones from the brain tell the ovary to start getting an egg ready. In the ovary the egg grows in a little sac of fluid called the follicle. The follicle makes estrogen that causes the endometrium to grow a thick and lush lining. When egg ovulates the follicle then makes progesterone that prepares the endometrium for a pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized by a male sperm pregnancy does not occur. With no pregnancy the ovary stops making the progesterone and that signals the endometrium to shed the lining. That is period. As the period begin the brain signals the ovary to start over with a new follicle and a new lining in the endometrium. This amazing cycle then starts all over again. To keep it simple a period is a bleed from the uterus (womb) that is rel eased through the vagina. It happens approximately every 28 days, although anywhere between 24 and 35 days is common. A period is part of a woman's menstrual cycle.

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 A normal menstruation lasts for a few days, usually 3 to 5 days. But anywhere from 2 to 7 days are considered normal. The average blood loss during menstruation is 35 millilitres with 10-80 mL considered normal; many women also notice shedding of the endometrium lining that appears as tissue mixed with the blood. (Sometimes this is erroneously thought to indicate an early-term miscarriage of an embryo.) An enzyme called plasmin — contained in the endometrium — tends to inhibit the blood from clotting. Because of this blood loss, premenopausal women have higher dietary requirements for iron to prevent iron deficiency. Many women experience uterine cramps, also referred to as dysmenorrhea, during this time, caused largely by the contractions of the uterine muscle as it expels the endometrial blood from the woman's body. A vast industry has grown to provide drugs to aid in these cramps, as well as sanitary products to help manage menses

 

 

The first day of your menstrual bleeding is considered day one.  The Menstrual cycle need not be same for all . It can differ. It could be anywhere from 21 to 45 days.

 

Periods usually last anywhere from three to seven days . But you lose only two table spoons of blood in all that time. Other fluids and tissue released along with blood makes you feel that hell a lot of blood has gone down the drain. Bleeding happens only if the pregnancy did not happen. If the pregnancy did not happen the uterus now has to remove the old lining and create a new lining . Uterus will push out the lining by contracting its muscular walls. Cramps are the result of this contraction.During this time , behind the walls the body is working overtime to get things ready . Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is secreted by the hypothalamus. GnRH tells the pituitary to release follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which cause the eggs, or follicles, in one of the ovaries to begin growing. Cervical mucus is dry and remains dry through days 8 or 9.

 

At this time of your period, your brain is preparing the ovaries for the next cycle to receive the egg . the uterus will prepare another lining . The follicle, which holds the egg, is making a hormone called estrogen that helps thicken the lining of the uterus. By day 10 Cervical mucus becomes wet with cloudy, sticky, or whitish or yellowish secretions

 

Cervical mucus becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy. This signals that ovulation is near. This is the time you are most likely to get pregnant. Sex now can lead to pregnancy even though ovulation is still several days away because sperm can survive two to five days after intercourse. Once the egg is ready the follicle that it has been growing in will open and let it go. This is called ovulation . Some girls actually feel slight twinge or cramp when this happens . This time your vaginal discharge becomes little more watery .  This happens because your hormones tell your cervix to change the discharge to make it easier for sperm to pass through. By 14th day Estrogen levels falls sharply and luteinizing hormone  surges, which causes the ovary to release the egg or better known as ovulation. The egg lives for about 12 to 24 hours.. Pregnancy can happen during about eight days after ovulation . The six or seven days before and two or three days after ovulation are the days that pregnancy is most likely to happen if you are having sex. Because ovulation is unpredictable and young girls cycles are not always the same every month, it is really hard to figure out exactly when pregnancy can or cant happen.

 

Ovulation has usually happened by now and the egg is still traveling down the tube . If it has already hooked up with the sperm and embryo is forming . Otherwise the egg will travel down through fallopian tube into the uterus . Once it reaches the uterus it will stay there for a couple of days before . When your body temperature has remained high for three days in a row, your fertile period is generally over. By day 18 your Cervical mucus becomes cloudy.

 

The follicle now will be making a hormone called progesterone . Progesterone will make the fluid in the cervix thicken and will get the lining in tip top shape incase an embryo arrives .If there are no pregnancy in the uterus , the amounts of progesterone falls and the endometrium cant live without it . So it leaves the uterus as a period , which brings you back to day one.

Periods which stop (amenorrhoea)

 

Pregnancy is the most common reason for periods to stop. However, it is not uncommon to miss the odd period for no apparent reason. But, it is unusual to miss several periods unless you are pregnant. Apart from pregnancy, other causes of periods stopping include stress, losing weight, exercising too much (long distance runners etc), and hormone problems. As a rule, it is best to see a doctor if your periods stop for several months without explanation.

 

The interval between periods can vary in some women. Irregular periods may indicate that you do not ovulate every month, and the balance of the female hormones may be upset. See a doctor if your periods become irregular in your younger years. However, irregular periods are common in the few years leading up to the menopause. The most common cause of infrequent periods is a condition called polycystic ovaries. This is a common condition affecting as many as 10 per cent of women, in which a large number of very small (less than 1cm) cysts on the ovaries appear in association with a hormone imbalance.

 

This condition results in irregular ovulation and thus periods are usually infrequent. The diagnosis of polycystic ovaries is made on the basis of one or more blood tests to measure hormones; a pelvic ultrasound scan of the ovaries is often taken as an additional test.

 

Menstrual cramps happen because the uterus squeezes to release the tissue and blood . This squeezing is caused by a hormone called progesterone . There are some tricks to ease your cramps . Do exercise like jogging , walking and swimming etc . Take essential fatty acids like omega 3 ( use flazseed oil , evening primrose oil or fish oil tablets )  Avoid red meat and fried , fatty or  greasy food . If nothing works try medication.

 

Pads

 

Pads come in different forms and sizes .

 

Pantyliner – This is a really thin pad that works for light flow . Some use it with tampon , just incase it overflows the tampon

 

Mini pad – Used for light to normal flow , it’s a little thicker than pantyliner

 

Maxipad – It is good for heavy flow or overnight use .

 

Wings – Pads with wings have flap on the sides  that you can wrap around the crotch of your underwear.

 

Sanitary napkins – This is another name for menstrual pads usually refers to maxi pads

Tampoons

 

A tampon is, a cylinder of cotton or any absorbent material made to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation. Some have applicators, or tube like devices that are used to aid in the insertion into the vagina. Some have no applicator and are made to be inserted using your index finger. There are two basic types of tampons. Those that have an applicator, and those that don't. Of the ones that have the applicator, you have two choices: a plastic applicator or a cardboard applicator. All of the plastic applicators have a rounded and closed tip that completely surrounds the actual tampon, whereas cardboard applicators can be the same, or have the tampon exposed at the end acting as the tip. Most girls who are starting to use tampons for the first time side with the plastic applicator – they're a lot easier to get in!

 

The applicator is made up of two parts, the larger cylinder is the outer tube, which will be inserted into your vagina, and houses the tampon. The smaller tube the one with the string hanging out is used to push the tampon out of the outer tube and into your vagina. You push the small tube into the larger tube, and this releases the tampon.

 

As for absorbency, you have many to choose from: lite, regular, super, super plus, and ultra. Lites absorb the least amount (less than 6 grams) (5 grams equals one teaspoon).

 

Regulars absorb 6-9 grams, Supers absorb 9-12 grams, Super Plus absorb